Cleveland Browns 2015 position preview – Wide Receivers

Nov 16, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins (16) scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Because of match-ups, game situations and sub-packages, the idea of naming “starters” has become somewhat antiquated, but it is safe to say that Bowe, Hartline and Hawkins will be the top three receivers on the team.

The Browns brought in both Bowe and Hartline via free agency from Kansas City and Miami, respectively. Both receivers have seen their numbers decline in recent years, which goes a long way toward explaining why they were available as free agents.

Bowe has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards three times in his career, but has only gone over 800 yards once in his past three seasons. (And the one time he did that, in 2012, it was just by a single yard.) And after scoring 15 touchdowns in 2010, Bowe has only had 13 touchdown receptions total in the past four years combined.

Hartline saw a similar decline last year. After posting consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2012 and 2013, Hartline saw his targets cut in half and totaled just 474 receiving yards.

There are extenuating circumstances at play here, however, as Bowe was hampered by playing with quarterback Alex Smith in Kansas City (although with McCown and Johnny Manziel manning the position for the Browns, that may not be a good argument), while Hartline’s production was impacted by the arrival of Mike Wallace and the inability by the Dolphins to protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who was sacked 46 times. (By comparison, the Browns only allowed 31 sacks in 2014.)

As for Hawkins, he may once again be the team’s best receiver this year. Hawkins was a productive player even though he was forced to play outside the slot position too often in 2014, as 44 of his 63 receptions went for first downs and his 364 yards after the catch were 16th best among wide receivers. (Ahead of such “big-name receivers” as Dez Bryant, Sammy Watkins and A.J. Green.)

Bowe, Hartline and Hawkins may not be the second coming of Webster Slaughter, Reggie Langhorne and Brian Brennan, but they are the type of veteran receivers who, if they can hold onto the ball and keep the chains moving when called upon, can be an asset to the offense.

After the top three, things get a bit more interesting.

Next: The Second Level